By Alan Carasso
Few horses in training could have matched motors Saturday with Peter Blum's Society (Gun Runner), who took the GIII Chicago S. by the scruff of the neck a few strides away from the gates and never gave any of her five rivals a chance, streaking home to score in new track-record time.
Drawn one from the outside, the 2-1 second favorite hit the ground running and led narrowly through the opening stages from Drifaros (Kantharos) as odds-on Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) was content enough to sit third behind the speed. The homebred began to get away on the turn, kicked farther clear into the stretch and ran out the easiest kind of winner for Tyler Gaffalione. Drifaros boxed on gamely inside to complete the exacta ahead of Matareya.
“She was super impressive today,” said Gaffalione. “It's a credit to Steve [Asmussen] and his team for having her ready to run a huge race. It was pretty cool setting the track record with her today.”
Winner of the Monomoy Girl S. last June to run her unbeaten streak to three, Society faded to be a distant fourth to Nest (Curlin) in the GI CCA Oaks before romping in the seven-furlong GIII Charles Town Oaks while earning a career-best 101 Beyer. Capitalizing on a speed-favoring strip at Parx next time out, she led throughout in the GI Cotillion S. back at a route of ground, but beat just one home in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and called it a season. The chestnut resumed with a third to champion Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) in the GI Madison S. going seven panels at Keeneland Apr. 8, but instead of facing Matareya and Goodnight Olive in the GI Derby City Distaff at that seemingly optimal distance, opted for the May 5 GI La Troienne S. going long and weakened to finish a well-beaten ninth.
Pedigree Notes:
Society continues what has been a magical run for Blum over the last few seasons, as his operation has accounted for 2020 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero and Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief) as well as this year's GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Room), to name a few.
Blum acquired second dam Archduchess–a half-sister to MGSW Mark One (Alphabet Soup) and GSW Rookie Sensation (Unbridled's Song) and whose son Pleasant Prince (Indy King) won the 2010 GIII Ohio Derby–in 2010, and Etiquette was the second foal bred by Blum out of the mare. Society is one of two winners from three to the races for her dam, who is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly Finesse (Street Sense), a $725,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Windancer Farm, and a yearling colt by Omaha Beach. She was most recently covered by Gun Runner.
#5 SOCIETY ($6.38) set the pace, shook clear of all foes and drew away from the field turning for home in the Grade 3 Chicago Stakes at #EllisPark.
7 furlongs in 1:20.54
Jockey @Tyler_Gaff got the win for HOF trainer Steve Asmussen.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/pEeL43rp0d
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) June 24, 2023
Saturday, Ellis Park
CHICAGO S.-GIII, $225,000, Ellis, 6-24, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:20.54 (NTR), ft.
1–SOCIETY, 118, f, 4, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Etiquette, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Archduchess, by Pleasant Tap
3rd Dam: My Marchesa, by Stately Don
O/B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $137,260. Lifetime Record: GISW, 10-6-0-1, $1,334,535. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Drifaros, 118, f, 4, Kantharos–Style Drift, by English Channel. ($70,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $25,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-My Purple Haze Stables; B-Hidden Springs Farm (KY); T-Teresa M. Pompay. $45,100.
3–Matareya, 123, f, 4, Pioneerof the Nile–Innovative Idea, by Bernardini. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $22,300.
Margins: 10 3/4, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.19, 16.05, 0.59.
Also Ran: Be Like Water, Hidden Connection, Stella Noir.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
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